"We must be ready to dare all for our country. For history does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. We must acquire proficiency in defense and display stamina in purpose." - President Eisenhower, First Inaugural Address

Army Navy

Friday, March 30, 2012

Now, the weather-related prediction of good areas of operations for the small boat pirates (red is good for the pirates, bad for the merchant shipping world):

What the pirates are holding and for how long - one crew is going into their 3rd year of captivity:

And then, a brief summary of other piracy events:

1. (U) CARIBBEAN: Petroleum products tanker boarded on 24 March while anchored. Petroleum products tanker boarded on 24 March while anchored at position 18:32 N – 72:23 W, the Port au Prince anchorage. Two boats approached the vessel during a heavy rain. Duty crew noticed there were 2-3 armed robbers on each boat and one robber threatened him by waiving a hand gun. One of the robbers armed with machete managed to board the tanker and was seen attempting to cut the mooring rope. Duty Officer raised the alarm and contacted pilot station for assistance. On hearing the alarm, the robber jumped into the water with small amount of stolen ship’s stores and escaped. A coast guard boat came to the location and investigated the immediate area. Master weighed anchor and proceed to drift outside the anchorage area. (IMB).
2. (U) NIGERIA: Chemical Tanker was chased on 22 March 100nm SW off Bonny Island, Nigeria. Chemical Tanker was chased on 22 March 100nm SW off Bonny Island, Nigeria at position 02:57 N – 006:12 E. Armed pirates in two boats chased a chemical tanker. The Master raised the alarm and sent a SSAS alert and instructed the crew to proceed to the safe room. A US warship responded to the alert and offered assistance. The pirates later aborted and left. (IMB).
3. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Fishing vessel reportedly hijacked on 26 March while underway near position 10:00 S – 050:00 E, approximately 115 nm north of Madagascar. It has been reported that maritime officials have lost contact with the vessel, and that there are 15 crewmembers of unknown nationalities aboard. (IMB, Press)
4. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Bulk carrier reportedly hijacked on 26 March while underway near position 07:00 N – 069:45 E: approximately 200 nm southwest of Minicoy Island, India. Pirates took hostage 23 crew members and are sailing the vessel towards the coast of Somalia. Further reporting awaited. (IMB)
5. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Tanker attacked on 26 March while underway near position 05:21 S – 049:18 E, approximately 370 nm west of Victoria, Seychelles. Four armed pirates in a skiff chased the ship, reportedly firing 30 rounds at the vessel. Ship’s Master increased speed and employed other anti-piracy measures. The onboard security team returned fire, resulting in the skiff aborting the attack moving away. The crew and vessel are reported safe. (IMB)
6. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Merchant vessel attacked on 25 March while underway near position 14:17 N – 056:51 E, approximately 215 nm northeast of Socotra Island, Yemen. (NATO)
7. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Merchant vessel attacked on 23 March while underway near position 16:58 N – 062:48 E, approximately 285 nm southeast of Masirah Island, Oman. (NATO)
8. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Container ship fired upon 19 March while underway at position 05:40
N - 053:23 E, approximately 520 nm northeast of Mogadishu. Six pirates in one skiff, armed
with assault rifles and at least one rocket propelled grenade, chased the ship and then fired upon
the ship. Ship’s Master raised the alarm, increased speed and mustered the crew in a safe
location on the ship. The onboard armed security team returned fire, causing the skiff to break
off the attack and move away. No injuries to the crew were reported. (IMB)
9. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Merchant vessel fired upon 17 March while underway at position
05:47 N – 053:50 E, approximately 390 nm south of Socotra Island, Yemen. (NATO)
10. (U) GULF OF ADEN: Petroleum products tanker attacked on 17 March while underway at
position 13:09 N – 048:52 E, approximately 70 nm southeast of al Mukalla, Yemen. A skiff with
six pirates aboard was noticed by bridge crew as it made a high speed approach toward the ship.
Bridge duty officer raised alarm, informed the Ship’s Master and the embarked security team.
Master increased speed, altered course and contacted a nearby warship for assistance. The pirate
skiff closed to within a half mile and fired upon the ship. The embarked armed security team
returned fire resulting in the pirates aborting the attack and moving away. The nearby warship
dispatched a helicopter to the location to search for the skiff, without success. No crew injuries
or damage to the ship was reported. (IMB)
11. (U) INDIAN OCEAN: Container carrier attacked on 11 March while underway near position
13:09 N - 057:56 E, approximately 210 nm east-northeast of Socotra Island, Yemen. Five pirates
in a skiff doing 22 knots chased and fired upon the ship which was steaming at 21 knots. Pirates
closed to the port quarter of the vessel and fired a rocket propelled grenade towards the bridge.
Master increased speed, initiated other anti-piracy measures and mustered the crew in safe of the
ship. After 20 minutes of chasing the ship, the pirates aborted the attack and moved away. (IMB)
12. (U) ARABIAN SEA: Chemical tanker ROYAL GRACE hijacked on 2 March while
underway near position 21:27 N – 062:37 E, approximately 215 nm northeast of Masirah, Island,
Oman. (Press)
13. (U) ARABIAN SEA: Tanker ADVANCE VICTORIA attacked on 6 March while underway
near position 14:20 N – 052:45 E, approximately 113 nm northwest of Socotra Island, Yemen.
Ship approached by one skiff described as dark in color. Shots fired by suspected pirates aboard
the skiff. Embarked security team returned fire, causing the skiff to pull away and withdraw.
(UKMTO)

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The main focus of this blog is maritime security. Other matters may appear. I am a retired attorney and a retired Navy Reserve Captain (Surface Warfare). Opinions expressed herein are my own. Sometimes I have the experience to back them up. Your opinions may vary. Don't panic. Feel free to disagree, that's what free speech is all about.
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Under the header: BM2 Nicholas Ferris signals an AH-64 Apache helicopter from the U.S. Army 4-501st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion during deck landing qualifications aboard USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43). (U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Adam Austin/Released)